8.03.2006

(Late) Thxrsdays With Thxrl: Wurld Traveller Edition

In a story that we have been keeping behind the scenes for MONTHS, Freedarko was actually contacted by our fictional musiccorrespondent, Thxrl Bailey, who in this email asked us to remove his name and all images of his likeness from our website. Upon explaining that such images/depictions were out of tribute/satire, we did not receive a response, but to be safe, I will be covering the ever-expanding intersection of hoops and music on my own this time around.

We begin at last weekend's Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago, Illinois where the Silver Jews, Yo La Tengo, Mountain Goats, Os Mutantes, and countless others brought the indie masses to an extremely hot fucking park in the City of Broad Shoulders. Independently, two festival-goers were spotted sporting our hallowed emblem, ensuring that the young stylerati of the 21st century would know that our cause still persists (photos courtesy of Little Egypt):

Thank you for spreading the word, in a public venue where STYLE--above anything else--dominated.

Meanwhile, in cyberspace, a song has surfaced by sometimes-basketball player Troy Hudson (T-Hud) and none other than UGK. "Never Thought (Good Weather Music)," which can be obtained here, appears to be T-Hud's "positive" track, and features the silliest drum programming this side of your boy who just got a bootleg version of Cakewalk. The rapping is pretty damn solid, but like--and I know this is the internet--get your mastering right. It is moments like these that really prove how "new" the new NBA is. Like, dudes with 30+ million dollar contracts want to be music moguls AND don't have the mindset to even do it properly. I might have to say that the biggest argument FOR de-Iverson-ing the league through euphemistic processes like the age limit, the dress code, Bruce Bowen on Team USA, etc. is that Hudson is putting himself out there like this. Just looking clueless. Like, at least Artest got his Tru Warier logo straight. Hudson and company are rockin a peanut.

To take it one step further, my homegirl Embot 3000 put me up on Money Malc, a Miami rapper who appears to be the first artist on Dwyane Wade's M3Z Entertainment label. Malc has some pretty catchy joints, as well as the enjoyable + completely underwhelming "Flash" anthem that can be procured here.

M3Z however, seems to be only a slightly more reputable operation than Hudson's Nuttyboyz crew (Wade/Malc got a Jeezy cameo to Hudson's Bun-B). But then you look at the difference in stature between Hudson and Wade, and you have to wonder: Would Magic Johnson or even John Salley for that matter ever be associated with whatever the 1980s equivalent is of a myspace website that looks like it was designed by a 12-year old?

According to a source quite close to C-Webb, this is one of the tightest cliques in Black Hollywood (with the exception of Teena Marie--she was just honorary for the weekend). They called themselves the "Ghetto Ratpack".Now, is it embarrassing that I don't know who the dude to C-Webb's right or the female to his left are? All that aside, the GHETTO RATPACK? Seriously? Now without even getting into issues of "street credibility," the Ratpack is a boys club. Second of all, I swear C-Webb hasn't been Black Hollywood since before the knee surgery. Additionally, after poking around the Bada Bling website, I curiously found that on the list of celebrity attendees--a massive list that included SCOT POLLARD alongside Lil Mo, Mateen Cleaves, and Raphael Saadiq, Allen Iverson's name was nowhere to be found. I don't think there is any better evidence that all the public "ME AND AI ARE BOYS AND I LIKE THAT HE DOESNT PASS ME THE BALL" stuff is a front than the fact that Pollard is on this list and AI isn't.

In closing, I would like to say that today's Freshness Mag interview with Redman really freaked me the fuck out. Does the Amare Reebok Authentic jersey-with-no-history seem to anyone else like Redman might be struggling a little bit? Even though it is the Amare joint, how not dope is this thing? I was a member of the Redman fanclub circa 1994-95 (with the autographed glossy to prove it), and I imagine this similar to what old people go through, when like, they see Frank Sinatra collaborate with Bono or shit of that nature. Ugh.

Totally OT, but definitely FD:(from insidehoops.com)"The Nuggets no longer are giving consideration to signing Shawn Kemp, who played in their free agent camp in June. Kemp, who hasn't played in the NBA since 2002-03, was charged July 21 with misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Kemp's agent, Tony Dutt, said he hasn't spoken with the Nuggets about Kemp since the incident."

That was my unfortunate news for the day. Back to your regularly-scheduled program.

If the MTV Crib episode with Redman from about 4 years back is any indication, Redman is just broke. His "crib" was to date the saddest one I've ever seen on the show; he was living in a rundown house in Brick City. Screen doors with holes big enough to stick your head and torso through - check. Drunk, passed out "uncle" on the floor - check. The living room's entertainment unit's biggest feature is a PS2 - check. No cars, nothing of note. It's probably the only time I've watch Cribs and been like "Sh*t, I'm living better than that."

Suffice to say, I'm guessing Redman didn't get a corn for all them albums. I blame Eric Sermon and the Meth for that.

SML - to veer way off track, Sean William Scott's appearance on Cribs was revolutionary. He was still living the same sort of pre-breaking it big Hollywood actor lifestyle. Had a shared apartment, PS2 in the living room, throw pillows. It was actually quite funny.

Back to hoops - how is it that every time I see Carlos Arroyo in a Puerto Rico uniform he's straight destroying people - but in a Pistons or Magic uniform, he's mediocore back-up point guard. yeah yeah, the PR got blown out last night, but Arroyo was straight tired playing the entire game against the rotating Battier/Paul/Bowen/Arenas full court press. The first quarter, he looked like a Puerto Rican Marbury (in a good way).

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